Underslung boat cart



March 24,1925. g 1,531,180

E.G.EmCKSON UNDERSLUNG BOAT CARL` Filed June 5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 24, 1925. 1,531,180

E. G. AERICKSON UNDERSLUNG BOAT CART Filed June 5. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 :PIE- E @www fnl/19072 eim my@ fluor/nuja Alili Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,531,180 PATENT` OFFICE.

ERICH G. ERICKSON, OF ALEXANDRIA, MINNESOTA.

UNDERSLUNG BOAT CART.

Application lcd June 5,

To all whom it may comer-n.:

Be it known that I, Enron G. ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alexandria, in the county of Douglas and State 0f Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underslung Boat Carts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others lskilled in the. artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in wheeled devices for lcarrying rowboats, canoes and the like, over land, and the present disclosure is directed to a device of this class which is designed primarily to trail behind a motor vehicle.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel t pe of boat cart in which the boat is yieldab y supported by springs upon the frame of the cart, and in which novel means are provided for raising or low-l ering the boat, as occasionmay demand "With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention'resides in the novel sub-l ject matter hereinafterV described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cart constructed in accordance withv my invention, showing a boat supported thereby.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views on lines 3-3 and 4;4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings above briefly described, I illustrate a frame mounted upon appropriate wheels 1 which are preferably provided with neumatic tires. This frame preferably lncludes an arched transverse axle 2 and a pair of longitudinal side bars 3 which are secured between their ends to the vertical portions of said axle, the front ends of said side bars being preferably brought together and connected to a suitable hitch 4. Front and rear springs 5 and 6 aie secured to the side bars 3 and extend upwardly therefrom, the front springs 5 being intended to support the front end of arowboat or the like B, while the rear springs 6 support the greater part of the weight of the boat. Hence, the springs 6 are p1eferably rather strong and of elliptic form as shown, while the springs 5 may be relatively weak and in the form of cantilevers. Front and rear transverse bars 7 and 8 have 1924. Serial No. 718,082.

their ends secured to the springs 5 and 6 respcctively, and front and rear sling-straps 9 and 10 depend from said bars. At one end, the sling-straps 9 and 10 are secured as indicated at 11 and 12 respectively, while the other ends thereof are connectedwith drums 13 and 14 which are mounted on the bars 7 and 8 and provided with suitable ratchcts or the like for normally holding them against movement. These sling-straps are adapted to extend under the boatas clearly shown in the several views.

A transverse drumV or shaft 15 is carried by the fronttrans'verse bar 7 through the instrumentality, of suitable bearings 1G, and a pair, of cables 17 arc secured at the front ends to said drum, the rear portions of these cables beingh'trained over cable-guides 1S which are carried by the bar 8. The rear extremities ofthe cables 17 are provided with hooks or the like 19 which may be engaged with suitable cleats 2O within the boat B, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. 'A ratchet mechanism 21 is provided to hold the drum or shaft 15 in any position to which it may be turned, and the ratchet mechanisms for the drums 13 and 14, are designated at 22 and 23, respectively.

Whenever a boat is to be raised and carried by the improved cart, whether said boat is on dry land or partially in the water, the cart is positioned over the boat and the sling -9 is loosened, passed under the front Y end of the boat and is then tightened suiciently to partly raise said front end. Then,

the cables 18 are connected with the stern of the boat by means of the hooks or the like 19, and the drum 15 is operated so that said cables will elevate the boat until it comes in contact with the rear bar 8. Then, the rear slin 10 is placed under the boat and tightene after which the cables 17 may be slackened and released from the boat if desired. If the front sling 9 was not tightened to bring the front end of the boat against the bar 7, previous to elevating the rear end of the boat, said front sling is then tightened and it will co-operate with the rear sling 10 in effectively supporting the boat from the bars 7 and 8, which are in turn supported upon the springs 5 and 6. Thus, even though the cart be pulled rather rapidly over rough highways, there is practically no danger of injuring the boat, even though quite a load of camping equipment or the like be carried in said boat.

Excellent results may be obtained from the general construction shown and described and it is therefore preferably folloWed, but Within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous modifications may be made. Wg

I claim 1. A boat cart comprising a wheeled lframe, transversely aliued springs carried by the front and rear of said frame, front and rear transverse bars whose ends are supported by said springs, front and rear adjustable slings pendant from said bars, a transverse drum supported by the front springs, cable guides supported by the rear springs, and pulling and elevating cables secured at their front ends to said drum and trained over said guides and having their rear ends depending.

2. A boat cart comprising a frame structure havin# an arched wheeled axle and longitudina side bars secured to said axle, front and rear sets of transversely alined springs secured to and rising from the front and rear portions of said side bars, front and real; transverse bars whose ends are sccured to said springs, front and rear adjustable boat-carrying slings pendant from said front and rear bars, a transverse drum mounted on the front bar, a pair ofcable guides mounted on the rear bar, and a pair of boat-elevating cables trained over said cable guides, the front ends of said cables being` connected to said drum, the rear ends of said cables being adapted for connection with the boat to be elevated and carried.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- Ixed my signature.

ERICK ERICKSON. 

